PUBLISHED ONNovember 04, 2026 1:55 PMBYShafiq ApandiNational coach Gavin Lee on Wednesday (Nov 4) named a 24-man squad for the inaugural Mizuho Blue Challenge, part of The Kallang Football Series Singapore, where the Lions will face world No. 33 Paraguay on Nov 13 before taking on five-time world champions Brazil four days later.
Both matches will take place at the National Stadium.
The matches come just over a month after Singapore's FIFA ASEAN Cup campaign ended in a crushing 6-0 defeat by Causeway rivals Malaysia in Bandung, Indonesia, on Oct 1.
That result, their heaviest defeat under Lee and worst against Malaysia since 1978, capped a disappointing tournament in which the Lions finished third in Group A with three points.
Paraguay and Brazil are two teams that regularly compete at the highest level of international football, and we know they will present a significant challenge, Lee said.
"These are exactly the kind of tests we need as we continue to push ourselves, embrace the discomfort and work towards arriving at the Asian Cup as the best possible version of ourselves."
He also made several changes to the squad that featured in the ASEAN Cup, handing 21-year-old Balestier Khalsa midfielder Woo Chun Wei his maiden senior international call-up.
Woo's selection follows a series of impressive performances in central midfield for his club, with Lee praising his maturity and consistency despite his young age.
"Chun Wei has shown maturity and consistency in his performances for Balestier, particularly for a player of his age. He has adapted well to the demands of the league and shown that he can compete at this level," Lee said.
Hougang United midfielder Saifullah Akbar and Geylang International defenders Joshua Pereira and Darren Teh have also earned recalls.
Their inclusion comes as Lion City Sailors full-back Nur Adam Abdullah faces a lengthy spell on the sidelines after sustaining an anterior cruciate ligament injury against Young Lions on Oct 11.
Thespa Gunma forward Ikhsan Fandi is also unavailable through injury, while Cardiff City defender Perry Ng misses out as he and his partner await the birth of their first child.
Experienced players such as captain Hariss Harun, who has 158 international caps, Safuwan Baharudin and Shawal Anuar remain in the squad, alongside Ilhan Fandi.
As Singapore prepare to face two opponents accustomed to competing on football's biggest stages, Lee reiterated that the team remained committed to earning back the confidence of its supporters after the poor performance in the ASEAN Cup.
"We never take the support of our fans for granted, and we know that their trust is something we have to keep earning," he said.
"We are committed to giving our best every time we step onto the pitch and showing through our performances what it means to represent Singapore."
Meanwhile, the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) announced on Nov 3 that Asian Cup, originally scheduled for Jan 7 to Feb 5, 2027, would instead run from Dec 23, 2027, to Jan 21, 2028, subject to Fifa approval.
The postponement comes amid security concerns following a series of attacks by Yemen's Houthi rebels on Saudi Arabia, including a deadly strike on Riyadh's international airport in October.
The attacks and wider regional tensions have disrupted travel and several major sporting events in the kingdom.
AFC cited exceptional regional circumstances, substantial logistical complexities and travel disruptions in its decision to reschedule the 24-team tournament.
For Singapore, whose only previous Asian Cup appearance came as hosts in 1984, the delay means an additional 11 months before they face Australia, Iraq and Tajikistan in Group D.
Lee said the decision was understandable, particularly given the safety concerns, but stressed that it would not change his team's approach to the upcoming friendlies.
"We understand the decision to postpone the tournament, and the safety and well-being of everyone involved must always come first," he said.
Goalkeepers: Izwan Mahbud (Young Lions), Ridhuan Barudin (Hougang United), Syazwan Buhari (Tampines Rovers)
Defenders: Hariss Harun (Lion City Sailors), Joshua Pereira (Geylang International), Raoul Suhaimi (Tampines Rovers), Safuwan Baharudin (Selangor FC), Ryhan Stewart (Lion City Sailors), Lionel Tan (Lion City Sailors), Darren Teh (Geylang International)
Midfielders: Joel Chew (Young Lions), Farhan Zulkifli (Lion City Sailors), Hami Syahin (Lion City Sailors), Haziq Kamarudin (FC Jurong), Glenn Kweh (Lion City Sailors), Jacob Mahler (Tampines Rovers), Kyoga Nakamura (Lion City Sailors), Saifullah Akbar (Hougang United), Shah Shahiran (Tampines Rovers), Song Ui-young (Lion City Sailors), Harhys Stewart (Chiangrai United), Woo Chun Wei (Balestier Khalsa)
Forwards: Ilhan Fandi (Lion City Sailors), Shawal Anuar (Lion City Sailors)
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